Traffic director



De i 19, 1922. h)

1,439,101. 0. HATCHER.

TRAFFIC DIRECTOR.

FILED MAY 31, I921.

Patented Dec. 19, 1922.

tat s mam @FMQEL.

TRAFFIC DIRECTOR.

Application filed May 31,

To all whom it may concern: i i

Be it known. that I, OsoAn MILTON HA'roHnR, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Mankato, county of Blue Earth, and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Traflic Directors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in trafiic directors.

Its object is to provide a simple and durable device adapted particularly, though not exclusively, for use at street intersections to direct vehicles to one side of the centers of intersection. i

A further object is to improve upon the ordinary stationary directors, or silent policeinen as they are sometimes called, the improved device embodying a self erecting structure capable of displacement under inipacts from moving vehicles, whereby injury to the device and to colliding vehicles is minimized and the labor in repair and replacement of the device materially rfeduced.

Another object is to supply a device of this kind including a warning lamp, 1 said lamp being lighted from a source preferably, though not necessarily, contained within the device.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear in the following description, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention; Fig.;2 is a longitudinal, central, sectional view thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan view of thedevice and Fig. 4; is a bottom view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, it will. be observed that my improvement includes a base A and an upright post 10 carried by said base. The base may be of any suitable form permitting of self erecting movement-s. I prefer that it be pear-shaped, as shown, and of suitable material or materials, as the case may be, arranged to locate the center of gravity in respect to the contour of the base 1921. Serial No. 473,994.

so that said base will erect itself from positions inclined from the vertical. Spaced legs or lugs 11 on the bottom of the base seek firm footing for the structure upon irto that end provide a receiving compartment 14 within the base A. Access to this compartment is afforded through a door-way 15 in said base, said door-way being normally covered by door 16. communicates with a bore 17 in the post 10, said bore being designed to receive transmitting means such as wires, pipes or the like leading from batteries or fuel c0ntainers within the base. While I have shown an electric lamp and lighting system therefor, it will be understood that any of the various lighting systems maybe employed. In carrying out my electrical system, I employ the ordinary electric globe 12, a bat tery 18, wires 19 connecting. thetwo and a switch 20, keytype or otherwise, for break: ing and completing the electrical circuit.

Advantage is taken of the weight of the battery 18 by locating the same in position wherein the weight thereof cooperates with the weighted sections of the base A in acquiring the self erecting action of said base.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

. 1. A device of the class descrlbed, comprislng a unitary, unanchored, self-erecting body capable of being dislodged from selected signaling positions by impacts from moving vehicles and spaced lugs on the body to supply a footing therefor upon the surface of a roadway and to arrest the spinning of the structure occasioned by glancing blows.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a pear-shaped body, lugs on the base Said compartment of the body supplying :1 combined three point support and anti-spinning means therefor, the center of gravity of said body being so locatedthat the body will erect itself, and a post reaching upward from the apex of said body.

3. A structure of the class described, including a base, the lower part thereof bulging outwardly andupw-ardly fromithe bot- 10 tom, said bulging portion being substantially circular in crosssection and formed to locate the center of gravity. in such position as to render the structure selterecting, and means for supporting the body upon uneven surfaces, said means serving also to arrest spinning movements of the structure occasioned by glancing blows.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

OSCAR MILTON HATCHER. 

